Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the Indian American community have urged the Government of India to open a consulate in the second-largest city of the United States of America and the entertainment capital of the world.
Los Angeles is synonymous with Hollywood and all the glamour and economic opportunities that come with it. Mayor Bass pointed out that the diverse economy of south California went beyond entertainment to include biotechnology and life sciences; space and aerospace; and green technology.
At present, there are five Indian consulates across the United States — in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta.
During the historic State Visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in June, at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, it was announced that India would open two new consulates in the US, one of which would be in Seattle. A group of Indian American organisations and the Los Angeles mayor are urging that the second consulate be opened in their city.
“I ask that you consider the City of Los Angeles for a new Indian Consulate. It would be my honour to work with you to open and provide continued support for this important platform for engagement and exchange,” Bass wrote in a recent letter to India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
“Tourism between India and Los Angeles is another source of mutual benefit, and Los Angeles has invested in India with a dedicated Tourism Office that opened in 2019 and remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bass wrote in her letter, a copy of which has been seen by the Press Trust of India.
With more than 100,000 Indian visitors to Los Angeles every year, a consulate would not only provide important services but also become a key partner to expand bilateral co-operation, she said.
“We are proud to host 94 foreign missions as part of our diplomatic corps, and my Office of International Affairs is dedicated to deepening our engagement with partners around the world,” she said.
“As the second largest city in the United States and home to more than 150,000 Indian Americans, I respectfully request you choose Los Angeles to host a new consular mission,” said the mayor in her letter.
“With the largest port complex in the Western Hemisphere, thousands of start-ups and the third largest venture capital market in the United States, and a slate of international sporting and entertainment events scheduled over the next decade including the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I am excited by endless opportunities to strengthen ties between Los Angeles and India,” she added.
While acknowledging the important work of the Indian Consul General in San Francisco, the letter said that 23 countries maintained consulates in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. “Twelve G20 countries have consulates in Los Angeles and San Francisco and an additional five G20 countries have consulates solely in Los Angeles.”
Bass wrote: “Southern California’s diverse economy stretches well beyond the entertainment industry, and includes a thriving biotechnology and life sciences sector, global leaders in space and aerospace, and a booming sustainability and green technology field.”
The Los Angeles region, she noted, was also home to more than 180 universities and colleges, centres for student experience, research, and innovation. “California is proud to host more than 10 per cent of all Indians studying in the United States, and we value the bridges they create between our communities,” Bass said.
Gunjana Bagla, an eminent Indian American from Los Angeles, who has launched an online campaign on the matter, said that Los Angeles was one of the largest cities in the US without having an Indian consulate. “We in the community feel that having a local consul general would be useful and beneficial not only to the Indian American community but also to the business community at large,” Bagla told PTI.
“Over 40 per cent of all trade in the United States goes through the twin LA/Long Beach harbours. As a top five economy it is embarrassing for India to not have a diplomatic mission in such an important location,” said the online petition, signed by more than 3,600 Indian Americans.
“The time to act is now: Prime Minister Modi and President (Joe) Biden announced in June that two new Indian Consulates will be opened. Los Angeles needs to take its rightful place before any other location in North America. Hurry and sign this petition,” it said.